Chapter 117: Talent vs hard work? (2/2)

The four witches were at this level, Camelia was at this level, and she herself was also at this level.

But…

'There is still more.'

Her eyes darkened. The divine aside, even on the mortal plane, she was sure that the avatar wasn't the last level possible. Even now, she knew three people who without a doubt went past that level.

Echidna, the mother of a thousand monsters.

Ambrosia, the thousands spell witch.

Finally, Mars, the Hero King.

”So, mother, I was always curious. Why didn't you teach this path to Sol?”

Lilin was genuinely curious. She had observed Sol's fight with Setsuna, and even though he was incredibly strong for someone who just awakened, the way he fought was too wild. But she remembered that before she left, Sol was supposed to train in the way of swords.

Of course, she understood that his fight against Setsuna had been more of a mating ritual than anything, but still, it was easy to see that he had lacked the grace Setsuna moved with.

”You are confusing something. I did train Sol for the way of swords. But I never really gave him a thorough training. This is for a simple reason. Sol isn't suited to my path.”

”Do you mean to say that he lacks talent?”

This time Lilith exploded in laughter, something very rare of her, ”Lacking talent? Goddess no, he simply has too much talent. So much that my path would only chain him down.”

She could only shake her head as she said this.

Her way was one born from her powerlessness. Despite her heritage, she was born with a weak body and unsightly capacity. Even though she had a large amount of mana, there was only so much her body could handle.

As such, she honed her skills.

Hours and hours of training, to efficiently use her mana. Hours and hours of training to move her sword as if it was an extension of her own body. She had shed blood, sweat, and tears to stand at the level she was currently.

If Sol had been a human, she would have taught him her skills as she did with her daughter.

But… He wasn't.

Not only was Sol a hybrid dragon, but he also inherited the cheat resistance his mother had, albeit weaker. As if it wasn't enough, he also had his dimensional magic. Finally, even after years and years of training, if she fought with Sol with her bare body without any mana or technique, he would snap her like a twig.

She still remembered back then when she first saw Blaze's prowess on the battlefield. It was like watching a juggernaut assaulting a group of ants. No spells could wound her while physical attack could not pass through her scales. Meanwhile, her mana was basically bottomless and she could simply throw tens of dragon's breath one after another.

A mixed feeling of bitterness and anticipation flowed in her heart when she imagined Sol doing the same in a near future.

Those who said that hard work always paid weren't lying. Hard work never lies. But...No matter how hard you worked, some people were simply bestowed by the grace of heaven.

Those people would always make all your struggle, all your pains, all your sufferings, look like some meaningless sad joke.

Those people were called geniuses.

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(A/N: So a little chapter to introduce the last book of Lustburg. As I said, more actions will happen towards the middle of this volume, and as such more information about the power systems will be made available. As for talent vs hard work. I believe that hard work is important, but without the right amount of talent, it's sadly useless... Perhaps I am too pessimistic?)

(E/N: Talent beats hard work? Overgeared God Grid would like to know your location.)